A Harris County sheriff's deputy shot a suspected truck thief Tuesday who charged at him while wielding a large metal object, authorities said.

The deputy - an undercover narcotics investigator - and an officer with the South Houston Police Department were staking out a suspected drug location about 2:40 p.m. Tuesday when they saw a man breaking into a truck parked at South Houston High School, 3820 Shaver.

"They pursued the suspect after they saw him get into the vehicle and drive off," said Victor Senties, a Houston police spokesman.

The short pursuit lasted until the driver hit a curb in the 2100 block of Parakeet - about 2 miles away. The man then fled.

The undercover investigators searched the neighborhood until they spotted him suddenly bolt from behind one of the houses.

Senties said the man ran toward the pickup the undercover officers were using during their earlier surveillance operation.

The deputy, sitting in the passenger seat, could see the man was holding a shiny metallic object, authorities said.

The deputy got out of the truck to face the man who was now running toward them. Although wearing civilian clothes, the deputy identified himself as a law enforcement officer, Senties said.

The deputy fired "several times" at the man, fearing he was a danger to him and his partner, Senties said.

"He tried to flee and then he dropped," Senties said.

Police later discovered the man had been carrying an industrial-sized pair of pliers.

"It looks like something you'd use to break into vehicles," Senties said.

Arnold Bang was returning home from church when he saw the police cars arrayed near his home.

He saw the man lying face down on the street. His hands were cuffed behind his back, Bang said.

"He was talking to the police. He said, 'I was just scared,' " Bang recalled.

The man was later taken to an area hospital. Police said he was shot in the lower back and had wounds that were considered non-life-threatening.

Bang has lived in the neighborhood for nearly 50 years.

"This didn't bother me. These things happen," he said. "The police officer was just protecting himself."

Charges were still pending against the man later Tuesday.

The deputy has been with the Harris County Sheriff's Office for about 10 years, officials said.

The Houston Police Department, the Harris County Sheriff's Office and the Harris County District Attorney's Office are investigating the shooting.